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The Flash, Spider-Man, Barbarella: Dec 10th Comic Reel

Talking with “Flash” co-writer Marc Guggenheim, MTV News discovers a few details about his vision for the film. “When Barry Allen was the character, he was a science policeman. We’re obviously updating that and now he’s in forensics and CSI. The tone is sort of darker, and more like ‘Seven’ and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ in that mysterious and noir-ish way, which is also working in conjunction with the superhero elements.” Um … the Flash in “Seven?” Will Gorilla Grodd cut off Iris’s head and stuff it in a box? Will Captain Boomerang be forced to wear the blade-filled strap on? Hopefully, he’s overstating the darkness in comparison to “Green Lantern,” but the last thing the Flash needs is to be dark.

Release date: TBA

SPIDER-MAN (BEGINS)

With filing underway, a few more casting choices have been announced. The Wrap reports actor Chris Zylka is set to play Flash Thompson. He is expected to terrorize Peter Parker in the school hallways. Meanwhile, Superhero Hype has learned young Miles Elliot has been cast as Billy Connors, son of Curt Connors/The Lizard.

Release date: May 28th, 2012

BARBARELLA

Pajiba’s Hollywood Cog posts to its Twitter feed the following: “A. Hathaway latest ‘attached’ to ‘Barbarella.’ Project currently is without a director.” Hmm, can we see Miss Hathaway in the skimpy futuristic but retro clothing choices of the character? Maybe. I’m just a little surprised there’s any fire at all for a remake of this. The first film, based on a French comic, was produced by Dino De Laurentiis.

Striking, but oddly similar to the posters for “Cowboys & Aliens.” Meanwhile, a new trailer for the film is set to be released later today. The Los Angeles Times will have a live chat with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige at 5pm pt, one hour after the trailer debuts.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, release date: May 6th, 2011

DREDD

Mania.com has a few photos from the set, including this close-up of an interesting bit of graffitti:

Release date: TBA

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

Comics Continuum has an official description of the film from Twentieth Century Fox. According to the studio press release, the film “charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.” Armageddon? Interesting. “Apocalypse” is another word for that.

Release date: June 3rd, 2011

ALIEN (BEGINS)

I’ve been on the fence about reporting “Alien” prequel news. Here’s part of the reason why. Blastr reports all the information leaked out in the last week is bunk. “A corporate communications spokesperson for Fox by the name of Chris Petrikin took to Fox’s Twitter feed to debunk two of the biggest items put out there about the movie, saying that it is not called Paradise as reported, and that it is definitely one movie and not two.” Also, all of the casting rumors are turning out to be little more than wishful thinking. Sometimes, I wish they could adapt some of the early Dark Horse “Aliens” comics. Those were pretty rad, particularly when the aliens made their way to Earth.

Release date: TBA

HUMAN TARGET

Comic Book Movie has a set of photos from the Christmas themed episode, “The Other Side of the Mall,” featuring an image I think everyone wants to see, Winston as a mall Santa:

Airs: Wednesdays

THE WALKING DEAD

Here at CBR, we have the second of two-part interview with creator Robert Kirkman. He discusses how tough it is to kill off characters. “It’s still difficult, especially for the other actors. They’re all hanging out for weeks and weeks, and then all of the sudden, one of their friends has to go off and do another job because they died. That part of it all sucks,” he says. “But as writers, this is “The Walking Dead,” and we can’t really consider that too much. If it’s interesting to kill off a character, if it’s going to make the show better by keeping the danger heightened and keeping people on the edges of their seat, well, you kind of have to just bite the bullet and fire those guys.”

Airs: 2011

WIZARDING FREE WEEKEND

Get me some butter beer and cue up a Pulp track — it’s the weekend! Finishing off ” … and the Half Blood Prince,” I’m done with the “Harry Potter” series until the seventh film comes to home video. I stand by my earlier appraisal, the second and third films are the best of the bunch. Meanwhile, if any of you in the great, wide Internet discover something awesome, disheartening, or just plain weird, let us know! Take credit, come up with a clever nickname, or go anonymous. The choice is yours. Fresh rumors and movie news every weekday morning. I am Erik Amaya, bracing for the future threat of the next whirlwind movie series.